Santa Cruz shooting victim ID’d

Posted: Monday, Feb 11th, 2013REGISTER-PAJARONIAN STAFF REPORT

A makeshift altar, with notes, flowers and candles, is shown outside the entrance to the Red Bar in downtown Santa Cruz where Pauly Silva was shot and killed Saturday morning. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian).

SANTA CRUZ — The man who was shot to death outside a Santa Cruz bar Saturday was identified as 32-year-old Santa Cruz resident Pauly Silva.

Santa Cruz Police responded to a call of a shooting in the 200 block of Locust Street approximately 12:30 a.m. They arrived to find Silva dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

The shooting was the first homicide in Santa Cruz for 2013, and Santa Cruz County’s second.

Witnesses described a possible suspect vehicle as a green or grey 90’s model Mercedes. Based on that description, police initiated “Project R.O.P.E,” where likely travel and escape routes are monitored by law enforcement officials countywide.

The men, both known to be members of the Norteño criminal street gang, were arrested for separate charges not associated with the homicide. Detectives Monday were still working to determine their placement at the scene and any involvement. They are in custody on charges related to probation violation and being a felon in possession of ammunition, and resisting arrest.

Detectives on Monday arrested a third person of interest in the case.

Neither the motive for the shooting nor the relationship between the suspects and the victim had been established Monday. Silva is not thought to be a gang member.

On Monday, a small shrine was set up with several bouquets of flowers, candles and a large, hand-written sign that said, “Never forget Pauly Silva.”

A note left at the scene from an unknown person stated:

“Pauly, I miss you so much. I wish we would have stayed closer over the years. All your friends are thinking of you. We spent a lot of time together today. There were a lot of laughs and a lot of tears. RIP Bro. You are gone but not forgotten. I love you, M.”